Hydrogen purifiers and hydrogen purification systems

Abstract

A hydrogen purifier includes an electrolyte membrane including a proton conductive polymer, an anode having an anode catalyst layer disposed on one side of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode having a cathode catalyst layer disposed on the other side of the electrolyte membrane, a separator which has a fluid channel and through which carbon monoxide, hydrogen and oxygen are supplied to the anode, and a power supply that energizes the anode and the cathode, the anode catalyst layer including Pt, the cathode catalyst layer including Pt and Ru.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hydrogen purifier comprising:
 an electrolyte membrane including a proton conductive polymer;   an anode including an anode catalyst layer disposed on one side of the electrolyte membrane;   a cathode including a cathode catalyst layer disposed on the other side of the electrolyte membrane;   a separator which has a fluid channel and through which carbon monoxide, hydrogen and oxygen are supplied to the anode; and   a power supply that energizes the anode and the cathode,   the anode catalyst layer including Pt,   the cathode catalyst layer including Pt and Ru.   
     
     
         2 . The hydrogen purifier according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the anode catalyst layer includes Pt and Ru.   
     
     
         3 . The hydrogen purifier according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the anode catalyst layer is a single electrode catalyst layer.   
     
     
         4 . A hydrogen purification system comprising:
 a hydrogen generator including a reformer that generates a hydrogen-containing gas by reforming reaction of a hydrocarbon raw material, a shifter that reduces the amount of carbon monoxide in the hydrogen-containing gas discharged from the reformer by shift reaction, and a CO remover including at least one of a selective oxidizer that oxidizes carbon monoxide present in the hydrogen-containing gas discharged from the shifter and a methanator that methanates carbon monoxide present in the hydrogen-containing gas discharged from the shifter; and   a hydrogen purifier including an electrolyte membrane including a proton conductive polymer, an anode having an anode catalyst layer disposed on one side of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode having a cathode catalyst layer disposed on the other side of the electrolyte membrane, a separator which has a fluid channel and through which the hydrogen-containing gas discharged from the CO remover and oxygen are supplied to the anode, and a power supply that energizes the anode and the cathode;   the anode catalyst layer including Pt;   the cathode catalyst layer including Pt and Ru.   
     
     
         5 . The hydrogen purification system according to  claim 4 , wherein the anode catalyst layer includes Pt and Ru.